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Whyteleafe have yet to pick up a point on their travels this season although they created plenty of chances. They scored twice and could have got more, but they always looked vulnerable at the back and Ashford took advantage, coming from behind to record their first win of the season to climb off the bottom of the table.
Early exchanges suggested an entertaining match with play swinging from end to end. 'Leafe had a good chance in the 4th minute when Sam Butler made a good run down the left and his cross just eluded the well placed Paul Scott.
Ashford's first good chance came four minutes later when Paul Jones was fouled 25 yardsout. Ryan Briggs struck the free kick just over the bar. In the 16th minute Mark Hammond made a fine run down the right, and his cross the far edge of the area found Scott who shot over the bar. Four minutes later Scott won the ball off a hesitant defence and put Hammond clear on the right. His cross was headed wide by Butler. Two minutes later another Hammond cross was headed straight at keeper Scott Chalmers-Stevens by Danny Oakins.
At the other end Jones broke free into the box but was denied by a great saving tackle from Fred Fleming. Four minutes later Jones had another good effort tipped round the post by Robert O'Hara. A minute later O'Hara was again brought into action, tipping over from a Ross Morley shot.
'Leafe took the lead in the 35th minute. Scott went on a powerful run down the right and his cross was met by Butler who left Chalmers-Stevens no chance. Jones could have equalised in the 39th minute, but shot wide, leaving 'Leafe with a goal advantage at half time.
Ashford came out strong in the second half and should have scored in the 49th minute. Jones won the ball, took it round the diving O'Hara and put the ball across to Mitchell Sherwood who somehow shot wide of the unguarded goal.
The hosts didn't have to wait too long however for the equaliser which came in the 53rd minute when John Guest's powerful header from a corner found the back of the net. Two minutes later Oakins put Butler through and his fierce shot was well tipped over by Chalmers-Stevens. A minute later Bryan Pearce also had a free header from an Ashford corner but his effort was just off target.
Ashford took the lead on the hour, when Joe Fuller got in front of the defence to head home from a Briggs free kick. Pearce managed yet another unchallenged header from a corner two minutes later but headed just wide. Ashford were gifted a goal in the 68th minute when a harmless looking cross was handled by debutant James Hancock in the area. The resultant penalty was slotted home by Morley. 'Leafe got themselves back into the game in the 74th minute when they won a penalty of their own. A great run by Jason Good child saw him get behind the defence and his cross was headed towards Oakins who was shoved by a defender to concede a penalty. Goodchild himself went close in the 78th minute but the hosts held on despite a long period of stoppage time during which their keeper was injured twice and substituted.
Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Goodchild, Bremner (Ikolodu 84), Fleming, Coleman (R), Hammond (McDowell 65), Coleman [D] (Wilson 65), Oakins, Hancock, Scott, Butler.